Cucumber water with sprigs of lemon balm and peppermint.
Fight the searing heat and keep your cool this summer with a pitcher of this refreshing Cucumber Mint Medley Spa Water. Full of several health and wellness benefits, such as supporting supple skin and aiding weight loss, this spa water is a breeze to whip up and tastes absolutely delicious! It’s also an easy way to ensure you are getting enough water, which is especially important this time of year. Pretty enough to serve at bar-b-ques, spa parties, and more, why not also make a batch to share with friends?
Ingredients
This recipe uses three types of mint — lemon balm, peppermint, and pineapple mint — to get a wonderful light and refreshing water tasty enough to ensure generous, guilt-free imbibing. But if you don’t have these fresh herbs on hand, you can always use dried herbs instead, which are readily available in tea bags in most health food markets and natural grocery stores. Unfortunately the pineapple mint doesn’t come in tea form usually, so substitute a different type of mint, such as spearmint,and add in a few pineapple chunks to get a similar taste.
- 1/2 gallon filtered or spring water
- 1 large organic cucumber sliced thinly with the skin on
- 5 – 6 sprigs of peppermint
- 2 – 3 sprigs of lemon balm
- 2 – 3 sprigs of pineapple mint
- Optional: cucumber slices and fresh herbs for garnish
Makes enough for eight 8-oz. servings.
Directions
Cucumber water is super easy to make. Simply wash and thinly slice the cucumbers with the skin on (they have a higher antioxidant value) and add to a pitcher of water. Then wash the herbs, discard any unsightly leaves, and cut off any excess stems. Add the fresh herbal sprigs (or substitute tea bags) to the pitcher of cucumber water and chill overnight or up to 24 hours. Serve with a sprig of fresh mint and a cucumber slice for extra spa appeal.
Options
Have fun adding in other healthy ingredients, such as citrus slices (e.g., lemon), teas (e.g., green tea), or juices (e.g., orange juice) to modify the taste and even boost the nutritional benefits. Another nice option is to add ice cubes made with fresh herbs, such as lemon zest or mint leaves.
Did you know?
- Cucumbers are a natural diuretic.
- Cucumbers contain silica, which increases skin moisture and improves elasticity.
- Cucumbers are high in potassium, so they are helpful in decreasing blood pressure.
- Mints and lemon balm aid digestion.
- Lemon balm is calming to the nervous system.
- The ORAC value of raw, unpeeled cucumbers is 232 μ mol TE/100g, whereas that of raw, peeled cucumbers is 140 μ mol TE/100g according to ORACValues.com.
- Water is an important factor in preventing constipation.
- Water supports your body’s natural detoxification process.
- Water transports oxygen and essential nutrients and vitamins throughout your body.
- Our bodies contain 60% water.
Other Spa Water Articles You May Be Interested In:
- 7 Compelling Health Reasons to Drink Cucumber Water
- 5 Reasons to Add Lemon Water to Your Daily Routine
- Pomegranate-Berry Spa Water Recipe
- Are You Unknowingly Drinking “Dead” Water Void of Minerals?
- 7 Ways to Enliven Your Drinking Water with Minerals for Better Health
Some Articles About DIY Spa Treatments You May Enjoy:
- Reduce Cellulite and More with Dry Skin Brushing
- How to do Abhyanga: A Daily Self-Massage Therapy Full of Health Benefits
- Organic Lavender Body Scrub for Sun-Drenched Skin
Copyright © Karen Peltier and Well Gal, 2013 – 2015. All rights reserved.
Photos © Karen Peltier and Well Gal, 2013 – 2015.
Hi – do you eat the cucumber slices?